The NFL has formally asked the Department of Homeland Security to take down a social media video featuring Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins, after the agency used a hype reel featuring him and a string of bone-rattling hits to push a message about border enforcement. The clip, posted Sunday, showed Dawkins delivering hits while chanting “the time has come,” with DHS captioning the post “our time has come.”
According to the Associated Press, the NFL requested that DHS remove the video.
DHS posted the montage of Dawkins highlights on X in direct response to a post from conservative account LeadingReport about an approaching migrant caravan, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. DHS characterized its border work as a defensive effort. The video was aimed at claims that roughly 600 migrants were moving through Mexico toward the United States.
Who Is Brian Dawkins
Dawkins spent 13 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and was a nine-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro safety. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Eagles call him “Weapon X.” Dawkins appeared at Eagles training camp in Philadelphia in July, with the Associated Press noting a photo from that appearance was credited to Chris Szagola.
As of Monday, neither Dawkins nor the Eagles organization had issued a public statement or responded to inquiries about DHS's use of the footage, the Inquirer reports, noting Dawkins has stayed silent since the video went up Sunday.
Music Adds to the Controversy
The DHS edit also set Dawkins' walkout and hits to Korn's 1994 track “Blind.” Metal Stop reported no indication that the band approved the use and said Korn had not commented publicly. That outlet notes it marks the second time federal immigration authorities have used music from Korn's debut album, after Border Patrol paired the band's “Shoots and Ladders” with tactical vehicle footage in December 2025.
The dispute is not DHS's first brush with the NFL over video footage. In March 2026, the White House's official X account posted a montage combining NFL clips with footage related to the bombing of Iran, the Inquirer reported.
Pop Culture in Immigration Messaging
Other federal immigration-related promotions have used pop culture, including a Sabrina Carpenter song in a deportation video. Federal websites may include protected intellectual property, USAGov says, and advises checking restrictions before reusing materials found on those sites. It also cautions against using government materials to imply government endorsement.
Whether DHS will comply with the NFL's takedown request remains an open question. It's also unclear whether Dawkins or Korn will pursue any formal legal action over the use of their likeness and music.
